Rice down a pair of stakes performers

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sassy Agnes and Blindwillie McTell have combined to win five stakes races for trainer Linda Rice. But one is no longer in her barn and the other is sidelined until spring.

Rice said Sassy Agnes was sold at Monday’s Fasig-Tipton winter mixed sale in Lexington, Ky., after developing a physical problem that required surgery. She will likely become a broodmare, Rice said.

Sassy Agnes, a daughter of Central Banker, won 3 of 7 starts as a 2-year-old: the Lady Finger Stakes and Shesastonecoldfox at Finger Lakes, and the Key Cents at Aqueduct. She finished eighth in the East View Stakes on Dec. 29 in what was most likely her final start.

Blindwillie McTell, who won a division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series in December and the Rego Park in January, suffered an infection of a hind ankle and is getting time off.

Rice said Blindwillie McTell is likely to rejoin her barn in another week or so and could be pointed to the $200,000 Times Square division of the New York Stallion Stakes here on April 20, closing day of the Aqueduct spring meet.